Dining and Playing in Downtown Decatur

A 10-day dining discount program kicks off as Downtown Decatur’s monthly celebration gets underway on Friday. Set for August 15, 2014, this month’s 3^rd Friday will feature special offerings at local restaurants in addition to its usual line-up of great music and family-friendly activities.

Beginning at 5 p.m., blocks of both Bank Street and Second Avenue will be closed for the 3^rd Friday monthly celebration and festivalgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enjoy a relaxing evening of music, food, and fun.

For the third year, the Alabama Tourism Department is coordinating a statewide Restaurant Week and during 3^rd Friday, many of the downtown restaurants will be showcasing their delicious cuisine. Set for August 15-24, 2014, Alabama Restaurant Week is a 10-day promotion designed to increase traffic to locally owned eateries by offering prix fixe lunch and dinner at a set price. For more details and a list of participating restaurants, visit www.alabamarestaurantweek.com.

At 5:30 p.m., Rising Sun Lodge #29 will dedicate their historical marker in a ceremony in Founder’s Park at the Old State Bank. Speakers and guests will include Sen. Arthur Orr, Mayor Don Kyle, Grand Master Lane Weatherbee and John Allison from the Morgan County Archives. Immediately following the dedication, the Lodge will host an Open House with tours and refreshments at their location on the corner of Bank Street and Walnut Street.

Music fires up at 6 p.m. with Toy Shop slated to perform on the Bank Street Main Stage. Additional musicians scheduled to perform throughout the evening include Nitrate City by Tallulah’s, Wes Woodard by Bank Street Green Food Court, the Morgan County Dulcimer Association on Bank Street, Eddie Miller and Jurassic Groove by The Antique Basket, Shawn Ferguson and Kevin Teague in Casa Grande Park, Laura Kee by Downtown Dawgs, Clarence Root “The Chordsman” by the Art School green space, and Mike Roberts by Waggin’ Tails located on Johnston Street.

Live music can also be found inside of downtown restaurants. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Simp McGhee’s will host J.C. Carter, and from 8:30 to midnight, Old Electric will be performing at Moe’s Original Bar-B-Que.

The Point Mallard Ducks Junior Ice Hockey Team will have free snow cones (in the team’s colors), free face painting for children and teens, and free Duck beak whistle necklaces (while supplies last). Festivalgoers can learn more about the new team and how to purchase tickets in front of Decatur Engravers on Bank Street.

Along Second Avenue, classic cars and vintage beauties will be on display. There will be a Kids Zone located on Second Avenue by Bank Independent and the Carnegie Visual Arts Center will offer activities and a chalk art contest in the 700 block of Bank Street. The Chalk Art Challenge will let students create works of art with one box of sidewalk chalk per artist. The finished drawings will be judged with the winners receiving gift certificates from downtown stores and restaurants.

In addition to great shopping in locally owned boutiques and shops, festivalgoers can look for one-of-a-kind items and fresh produce in the Vendor Marketplace located in Casa Grande Park on Second Avenue and at The Market on Bank Street. The Morgan County Homebuilders Association will host a Beer Garden in Founder’s Park and High Ridge Spirits will have a moonshine tasting in the Bank Street Food Court where festival goers can also grab a quick bite to eat from Bank Street Green and Downtown Dawgs. Four-legged friends will be treated to a cool water station at the Cottage House.

MCATS will provide transportation between Bank Street and Second Avenue for $1 per person, per ride. Pickup locations are at the Alabama Center for the Arts parking lot on Second Avenue and beside Tammy Eddy Antiques and Interiors on Bank Street.

Participating streets in 3^rd Fridays include 2^nd Avenue, Bank, Market, Moulton, Grant, and Johnston streets. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Admission is free. 3^rd Friday Downtown Decatur is organized by the members of the Downtown Decatur Merchants and Business Association, including Bank Independent, Bank Street Art & Antiques, Beautiful Edge-A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, Carriage House, Chenault Studios & Bank Street Green, Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority, Decatur Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Decatur Morgan County Farmer’s Market, Ingalls Entertainment, King Insurance Agency, Mellow Mushroom, Memi’s, Progress Bank, Simp McGhee’s Stovall Marks Insurance, The Antique Basket, The Cupboard, and The Paper Chase.

The Downtown Merchants Association wishes to thank the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department for the tremendous support they provide to the event as an in-kind sponsor. Presenting sponsor is Budweiser. Diamond Sponsor is Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority. Gold Sponsors include Bank Independent, BP, Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Progress Bank, and Morgan County Commission. Silver Sponsors are Nucor Steel and 3M. Bronze Sponsors are Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance, Beautiful Edge-A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, and King Insurance Agency.

For more information, call Ashley Ashwander at 256.355.8993 or visit 3^rd Friday’s Facebook page for the latest information.